Grenada

I

Introduction

Grenada, independent country in the West Indies consisting of the island of Grenada and several tiny islands in the southern Grenadines. The largest of the attached Grenadines is the island of Carriacou, to the northeast. The country has a total area of 344 sq km (133 sq mi), making it the second smallest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Only Saint Kitts and Nevis is smaller. Grenada island itself has an area of 311 sq km (120 sq mi).

Grenada and its dependent islands in the southeastern Caribbean Sea are the southernmost of the Windward Islands. The capital, largest town, and principal port is Saint George's, located on the southwestern coast of Grenada. In the center of the island lie volcanic mountains covered with dense rain forest. All the islands have a tropical climate, with a rainy season from June to December. Spices, such as nutmeg and cloves, thrive on the island and give Grenada its nickname “the spice island of the Caribbean.”

Grenada was once divided into large plantations owned by British colonists and worked by African slaves. The slaves’ descendants, who form the bulk of the present population, live mostly on small farms and raise food crops, such as yams, sweet potatoes, and cassava. Nutmeg, bananas, and cacao are grown for export. Grenada’s growing tourist trade is the largest source of income.

Grenada has a parliamentary government. In 1979 a leftist government took power in a coup d’état. In 1983 the country’s leader, Maurice Bishop, was killed by hardliners within his own political party. United States forces invaded Grenada a week later, with troops from seven other Caribbean countries. Parliamentary government was restored the next year.

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II

Land

Grenada island measures about 34 km (21 mi) in length by 19 km (12 mi) in width. The heavily wooded, mountainous island is of volcanic origin. The highest peak is Mount Saint Catherine (840 m/2,756 ft). Valleys interspersed between the mountains are picturesque and fertile, and many contain swift-flowing streams. Lakes fill several volcano craters high in the mountains. The island also has hot springs, several mountain lakes, and excellent beaches. The beaches consist mainly of black volcanic sand. Coral reefs fringe much of the coastline.

The climate of Grenada is tropical, with an average annual temperature of 28° C (82° F) along the coast. A rainy season lasts from June to December, with November the wettest month. Annual rainfall ranges from 1,000 mm (40 in) in the southwest to 3,800 mm (150 in) in the mountains. Grenada lies on the southern edge of the Caribbean hurricane belt and was hit hard in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan.

Tropical rain forests in the interior of Grenada contain teak and mahogany trees. Mangroves grow in swamps near the coast. Wildlife is abundant. Animals include the nine-banded armadillo, mona monkey, green iguana, and Indian mongoose. Many tropical birds and unusual tropical flowers also thrive on the island.

III

People

The population of Grenada (2007 estimate) is 89,971. More than a third of the people live in Saint George’s, the only town on the island. The population is quite young: A third of Grenadians are under the age of 15. The people are predominantly black, and just over half are Roman Catholic. The remainder are mostly Protestant or Anglican. English is the official language, but most Grenadians speak an English-based Creole as their first language. A French-based Creole is also spoken, mainly by older people.

The vast majority of Grenada’s people are the descendants of Africans brought to the islands to work as slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries. People of South Asian and European descent also form part of the population. Many Grenadians have immigrated to the United Kingdom, to the United States, and to other Caribbean islands in search of greater economic opportunities.

Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 16. Classes are taught in English, and students at public schools wear uniforms. Grenada has a literacy rate of 98 percent. There are teacher training, technical, and agricultural colleges on the island. St. George’s University was founded in 1977 as a medical school; many of its medical students come from the United States.

IV

Economy

Agriculture and tourism provide the foundation of Grenada’s economy. Grenada’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2005 was $474 million, giving a per capita GDP of $4,060. (GDP is a measure of the value of all the goods and services a country produces.) The principal export crops are the spices nutmeg and mace. Grenada is the world’s second largest producer of nutmeg after Indonesia. Other crops grown for export include cacao, citrus fruits, bananas, cloves, and cinnamon. Most farms on Grenada are small. Cereal grains and root vegetables, such as cassava and yams, are grown for local use. Shrimp and fish also are part of the local diet.

Tourism is of growing importance to Grenada’s economy. The island has a pleasant climate, sandy beaches, and lush tropical forests. The expansion of the main airport and the improvement of hotel accommodations during the 1990s turned tourism into the country’s main source of revenues. Grenada uses the East Caribbean dollar of 100 cents (2.70 East Caribbean dollars equal U.S.$1;).

Manufacturing industries in Grenada are mostly on a small scale. They produce beverages, such as rum from sugarcane grown on the island, and beer; foodstuffs, such as flour from locally grown wheat; and textiles. Another industry is the assembly of electronic parts for export.

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